The digital transformation is playing an increasingly vital role in the healthcare sector
With all industries moving towards digitalisation, healthcare is no exception: the adoption of digital technologies presents opportunities for healthcare providers to improve the accessibility and profitability of healthcare services. COVID-19, for its part, further accelerated the digitalisation of the industry and became a major driver for a number of digital applications. However, much of this surge in digitalisation results from the tremendous progress made in a variety of technological layers.
The role of data
In addition to telemedicine becoming more widely accessible, another main driving force behind the uptake of innovative healthcare solutions is the growing volume of healthcare data. Leading companies such as Phillips Healthcare and Medtronic, as well as newly arrived start-ups and SMEs, offer a wide portfolio of remote patient monitoring (RPM) services. ESA, through its incubation programme, has supported companies such as Portabiles HealthCare Technologies, which has developed a wearable sensor system that analyses gait and transfers data wirelessly to a data hub.
This growth in the volume of healthcare data collected is notably propelling the rise of healthcare digital platforms that are paving the way for a wider adoption of AI in the global healthcare industry with increasing needs for automated evidence-based decision-making. By 2025, 20% of medical services could be replaced by AI, especially in diagnosis, prevention and monitoring.
The value of the space sector
Computer vision, used extensively in space remote sensing, has become key in reducing the burden on healthcare professionals in image analytics. Moreover, the use of digital twins of patients, patient groups or even populations to test therapies before they are applied is becoming increasingly widespread. Furthermore, the healthcare industry is also leveraging augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for much the same reasons as the space industry, opening the door to synergies, between the two sectors. Surgical Theatre software sets a compelling precedent for AR technology in aerospace training (Israeli Air Force) being redeveloped to train surgeons.
The value added by the space sector to digital healthcare services is highlighted by several activities that ESA is currently undertaking. In collaboration with the UK National Health Service (NHS) and the UK Space Agency, ESA is for example promoting innovative solutions exploiting space technologies for the benefit of the NHS ecosystem. ESA is also supporting the role of satellite in 5G/6G development, key enabler for future digital applications.
Read our mini-report on health innovation trends and opportunities for space businesses to learn more.
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